Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-03-07
NEW YORK March :

llaDle TO die at any moment
Major j. B. Pond, the business agent of
Mr.. Beecher, stated to a newspaper CORES.
pondent today that this attack was the first
ana not the second. stroke of apoplexy which
MI. Beecher had received. 1t will be re-
membered that last season, while Mr.. Beecher
was lecturing in Chicago to a large audience,
ne was suddenly obliged to suspend and to
leave the platform on account of sickness
mis- sickness was supposed at the time to be
stroke of apoplexy, but it was not. TWAS
merely an ordinary disease of the bowels.
Major Pond also stated that when he saw
Mr.: Beecher yesterday he seemed as we'll as
he had ever been. He was then hard at work
on paper he was preparing for the Century
magazine, on the visit he made to England
III 1908, which was to be incorporated in
thelr forthcoming volume of war articles
lie mad cancelled all his lecture engagements
1or this season in order to devote his spare
time entirely to literary work. He was pre-.
pairing the second volume of his Life of
CHRIST" under contract recently made with
Il. l.. Webster & Co. by Major Pond, and was
planning an autobiography, to be published
by the same firm. Mr.. Beecher was looking
forward with much pleasure to next summer,
when he would have celebrated, in June his
14th birthday, and in August his golden we'd
ding and the 4Oth anniversary of his pastor
ate in Plymouth church. If he RECEIVERS
from his present attack, he will probably be
obliged to suspend all his literary work in
dehnltely, and to retire, for time at least,
from his pastoral labors.
At II o'clock tonight Mr.. Beecher was
slightly better, and appeared to be less
drowsy. Rev. DR.. Talmage and ali the prom
inent members of MIR. Beecher's church have
called at the house. Mr.. Beecher, by point
ing to his head, indicated that he was suffer
ing there the most His pulse was l0S, res
plration 81, and temperature 100. DIR.
Searle did not think his patient would die
tonight.
Mrs. Beecher, who is nearly "A years old,
is in ill health.
New YORK, March 6.
At o'clock tonight Henry Ward Beecher's
condition remained unchanged. He is still
unconscious and said to be slowly sinking
He moved his right hand occasionally.
Mr.. Beecher has been lying in a neep CON-
atose condition all day. He does not move,
but lies on his back, with an occasional
movement of his right arm. His breathing
Is heavy and spasmodic, giving four or five
heavy respirations and then almost ceasing.
Mrs. Beecher has been most of the time in
the sick room. She bears up heroically and
seldom leaves her husbands bedside.
The physicians in attendance have in
formed the members of the family that Mr..
Beecher's death is only q question of time.
and they remain in the sick chamber awaiting
developments.
Mr. Beecher's son Herbert, who was tele-
graphed to at San Francisco, is on the ocean
between Portland, Ore, and San Francisco,
and is not expected to reach New York in
time to see lis father alive.
DR.. 5 aries informed reporter tha there
was no possible hope of Mr.. Beechec's re
covetv. He was stlil in a comatose state.
ant death might occur at any moment, and
a gain 1t m Qht be within several hours. He
cannot take any nourishment, not even in
liquid form.
There has been large crowds about Mr..
Beecher's house all day, awaiting bulletins,
aud the interest in his condition has been
general. During the day the following bull
ietin was posted:
Prof w. Helmuth OF New York, in con-
sultation, fully confirms the opinion of the
physicians that Mr.. BeeCher is gradually
sinking. He may, however, live for some
days"
That all hope was given up was plainly in
dicated by this bulletin and the remark of
Rev. Dewitt Talmage as he passed out,
at is very serious" and hurried on, vas
painfully apparent.
MIR. HALLIDAY conducted the services at
Plymouth church this morning and the III
O'clock bulletin was read to the congregation
The people were much affected and tears
flowed in abundance. After the services
were concluded meeting of the church
trustees was held and committee appointed
to take charge of the church affairs until a
definite point in Beecher's Illness was
reached
w. S. Searle, Beecher's family physician,
signs the following statement
New York, March 6.--8 p. VI.
The condition of Beecher has not mater
tally changed dnring the day. He is in
deep cOmatose state from which he cannot
be aroused and from which he will never
probably rally. He lies quietly, like one IN
the deepest sleep and gives no indication OF
pain or uneasiness. His pulse varied from
80 to 100 degrees. AT one time for several
hours it intermittcd two or three beats in
each minute, but this evening it remained
quite regular and hard and full. The lem
perature has ranged from 100 to 1904; res
pirations number about 80 to the minute
The body and extremeties are equally warm.
The face is flushed and has a some- nat
livid hue. He is unable to speak or swallow
ANYTHING excep, small quantities of liquid
food which must be cautiously administered
to prevent choking.
During the day he has been under the con-
stant supervision of his physicians who re-
main with him tonight. DR.. W. t. Helmuth
and DR.. w. A. Hammond of New York City
have each visited him today. All three med
ical advisors are in full and entire accord as
to the nature and location of the disease, its
present status, remedial measures 20 be en-
ployed and as to the prognosis of the case.
1t is their opinion that the history of today
confirms the opinions that they have enter
tanned from the beginning, that recovery is
not to be hoped for; that though effuson of
blood into the brain is now stopped, fresh
hemorrhage may at any time occur and
speedily end life; that il is not likely to hap
pen so far as the present indications are to
be trusted, and should it not occur, then his
life may be spared yet several days. How
long depends on his endurance and strength
of constitution.
Drs. Hammond and Hulmuth will not re-
turn for another consultation unless sent for,
as they have expressed themselves as deem
ing it unnecessary. No one except MIS-.
Beecher and her childred is allowed to visit
the patients bedside.
At IL P. NJ. Mr.. Beecher's condition was
reported unchanged, save for gradual sink
ing towards the inevitable end Gen. Horatio
King left the house At that hoar, and e1-